The Arts Buzz: A blog about Elwyn and Anne Truitt at Delaware Art Museum, George Thorogood at The Grand Opera House, and the plays "Passing Strange" and "Twelfth Night"

The Arts Buzz: A blog about Elwyn and Anne Truitt at Delaware Art Museum, George Thorogood at The Grand Opera House, and the plays "Passing Strange" and "Twelfth Night"

New Windows on Art

When last we told you about the Delaware Art Museum’s Outlook Series, it was an exhibition of works from Christina School District art teachers. Starting next week, Outlook presents “Expressions: Artists Presented by Elwyn,” a show of 80 works by clients of Elwyn Delaware, a vocational training center for people with disabilities. Jerry Bilton, director of Gallery 919 in Wilmington, is guest curator. This is truly beautiful work, a window into the lives and minds of the differently abled. It shows Oct. 8-Nov. 13.

Also at the Delaware Art Museum, see “Anne Truitt: Luminosities.” The exhibition features works from the museum’s collection. An important part of the group known as the Color Field painters, Truitt spent her childhood on the Eastern Shore. Her work is on display at such esteemed museums as The National Gallery of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of American Art and others. She remains an important figure in American abstract painting. See “Luminosities” Oct. 15-Jan. 8. For more on both exhibitions, see delart.org.

Guitar Heroes

How excited are we about the coming few days at The Grand? Words can’t express. First, George Thorogood, Delaware’s original guitar hero, plays Sept. 29. “Bad to the Bone” doesn’t begin to describe his playing or show. All we can say is that Lonesome George hasn’t slowed down much over the past 35 years. He sold out his last visit to The Grand two years ago, so it’s plain the love hasn’t died. California may be his home now, but we’ll always claim him as ours.

Moving from local legend to country legend, see Jerry Jeff Walker Oct. 2. Most famous for penning “Mr. Bojangles,” Walker is a songwriter and storyteller of the first order, admired by some of the best in the business. The show promises to be part music history lesson, part Saturday night at the roadhouse. It’ll be something to see. Tickets for both concerts are available by calling 652-5577

Sly as a—Well, You Know...

Opening at the UD this week is “The Little Foxes” by the Resident Ensemble Players. Lying, cheating and stealing has never reached such heights as those achieved by Ben and Regina Hubbard as they try to out-scheme each other to increase the family fortune. It never got as saucy on “Dallas” or “The Riches” as it does in this play by Lillian Hellman. Call 831-2204 for tickets.

Hello, Sunshine

Lewis and Clark are exploring different territory these days—their relationship. But it’s not the Lewis and Clark you think. In Neal Simon’s play, it’s Al Lewis and Willie Clark, once-popular Vaudeville partners who haven’t spoken in years—though that changes when a TV producer wants to do a special. See them sort out their issues when Kent County Theatre Guild stages “The Sunshine Boys” Sept. 30.-Oct. 2 and Oct. 7-8. Get tickets at (800) 838-3006, Check out the guild at kctg.org.

You Can’t Beat the Bard

The Chapel Street Players have opened their 77th season with Will Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” the story of sibs Viola and Sebastian’s separation at sea and landing on Illiria. Being a typically bardean romantic comedy, there’s plenty of gender bending and identity crises before everyone comes to learn the true meaning of love. See it Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Call 368-2248 for tickets. See chapelstreetplayers.org for more on the venerable organization.

Who is Stew?

He’s the one-name playwright whose unlikely “Passing Strange” has won a Tony for its depiction of Youth as he journeys toward The Real, showing how a black man processes conflicting signals about race as he tries to express himself through music. And music—from Gospel to punk—is key in this story. See it presented by Bootless Artworks at The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew in Wilmington Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Oct. 7-9 and Oct. 13-15. Call 887-9300 for tickets.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DELAWARE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WORLD

About This Blog

The Arts Buzz clues you in weekly to the area’s must-see shows and events and tells you about the personalities behind our organizations and productions. Send event information to Mark Nardone at mnardone@delawaretoday.com.